Vol. 7(36), pp. 2707-2713, 25 September, 2013 DOI: 10.5897/JMPR2013.5194 ISSN 1996-0875 ©2013 Academic Journals Journal of Medicinal Plants Research http://www.academicjournals.org/JMPR Full Length Research Paper Ethnobotany of Acanthaceae in the Mount Cameroon region Fongod A.G.N*, Modjenpa N.B. and Veranso M.C Department of Botany Plant Physiology, University of Buea, P.O Box 63, Buea. Cameroon. Accepted 2 September, 2013 An ethnobotanical survey was carried out in the Mount Cameroon area, southwest region of Cameroon to determine the uses of different species of the Acanthaceae. An inventory of identified Acanthaceaes used by different individuals and traditional medical practitioners (TMPs) was established from information gathered through the show-and-tell/semi-structured method and interviews during field expeditions. Sixteen villages were selected for this research: Munyenge, Mundongo, Ekona, Lelu, Bokoso, Bafia. Bakingili, Ekonjo, Mapanja, Batoke, Wututu, Idenau, Njongi, Likoko, Bokwango and Upper farms. The study yielded 18 plant species used for treating twenty five different diseases and 16 species with ornamental potentials out of the Acanthaceaes identified. Results revealed that 76% of species are used medicinally, while 34% are employed or used for food, rituals, forage and hunting. The leaves of these species are the most commonly used plant parts. The species with the highest frequency of use was Eremomastax speciosa (Hotsch.) with 29 respondents followed by Acanthus montanus (Nes.) T. Anders. The study reveals the medicinal and socio-cultural uses of the Acanthaceaes in the Mount Cameroon Region and a need for proper investigation of the medicinal potentials of these plants. The extensive use of these plants by the population warrants their conservation. Key words: Acanthaceae, Mount Cameroon, TMPs, ethnobotany, inventory, medicinal plants INTRODUCTION Ethnobotany is defined as ‘the study of the utilitarian Brazil and Central America. It is composed of mainly relationship between human beings and vegetation in annual and perennial herbs, shrubs and climbers, but their environment’ (Harshberger 1896). It takes into also includes some large trees. The leaves are simple, account an appraisal of plant-human relations in all opposite, estipulate and usually entire-margined, with phases and the impact of plant environment on humanity. round to quadrangular stems. The leaf margins are The Mount Cameroon region is considered as one of the entire, serrated or dentate and they have solitary or centers of plant diversity in the world in terms of food, racemose inflorescence (Ben and Welle, 1980; Lucinda timber and medicinal plants as well as many endemics et al., 2000). Cystoliths (deposits of calcium carbonate) (Davis et al., 1994, Cable and Cheek, 1998). are characteristics of some taxa, some producing or The Acathaceaes (Acanths) derived from Acanthus are appearing as streaks on leaves. Flowers are in spikes, made up of 221 genera and 4000 species (Scotland and racemes or cymes, large and showy involucral bracts that Vollesen, 2000). The family is known from a variety of are fairly characteristic. The fruit is a loculicidal capsule, very diverse tropical and subtropical habitats, and its four often explosively dehiscent. Some of the familiar genera main centers of distribution are Indo-Malaysia, Africa, in addition to the type genus, Acanthus include Justicia, *Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]., Tel: +27183892647; Fax: +27183892837 2708 J. Med. Plants Res. Thunbergia, Ruspolia, Barleria and Ruellia. Cable and species. Proper identification and documentation of the Cheek (1998) placed the Acanthaceae as the sixth most ethnobotanical uses of these plants is very pivotal as no abundant family in the Mount Cameroon region. This ethnobotanical surveys have been conducted to assess family is currently classified under the order Lamiales and their values. The research therefore sought to carry out a clade Euasterids (Haston, 2009). survey of the ethnobotanical importance of Acanthaceae Many, if not all, non-native alien plant species of the species in the Mount Cameroon region. family Acanthaceae, found in tropical islands were intentionally introduced as garden ornamentals because of their showy coloured flowers, bracts or leaves. Some MATERIALS AND METHODS have 'escaped' gardens and have naturalized in human- Présentation of the Study area disturbed areas as weeds, adventives, or ruderal species. A few species have successfully invaded secondary and The study was carried out in the Mount Cameroon Region, located relatively undisturbed native wet forests (Jean et al., on the coastal belt of the Gulf of Guinea (Central Africa) in the 2007). Acanths are widely used in horticulture for their south west province of Cameroon (Figure 1). It lies between numerous flowers or bracts with showy colours and/or for latitudes 3° 57' and 4° 27' N and longitudes 8° 58' and 9° 25' E (Tchouto, 1995). The region is roughly ovate and covers their variegated or bicolorous foliage (e.g. Graptophyllum approximately 2700 km2 encompassing the main massif which is pictum, Hypoestes phyllostachya, Pachystachys lutea, about half the total area of 1500 km2 and a summit at 4095 m Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. artropurpureum, above sea level (a.s.l) (Cable and Cheek, 1998). The mountain has Strobilanthes dyerianus, Thunbergia mysorensis are a strong influence on climate causing a considerable orographic among the most well-known tropical species). rainfall especially on the rain bearing windward western side of the This group of plants is important to both man and mountain where mean annual rainfall is maximum reaching 10000 mm in Debundscha and slowly decreasing in an eastern direction to animals being used as food and medicine. In Kenya, for less than 2000 mm. Temperature varies more on the west slopes example, some species provide fodder for grazing (24 to 28°C) than on the east slopes (27 to 28°C). Relative humidity, animals especially goats (Burkill, 1985). Acanthaceaes rainfall and temperature, decrease with altitude (Tchouto, 1995; could also be used as bio-indicators to understudy the Cable and Cheek, 1998). The mountain, by virtue of its volcanic spatial distribution of plant communities (Adjonohoum et origin has soils that are first class for agriculture except recent lava flows that have poor evolved mineral soil (Cable and Cheek, 1998). al., 1996; Kouao et al., 2008). On the mountain there exist critical elevations at which there are Ethnobotanical knowledge is a cumulative body of discontinuities in vegetation or flora: 800 m, 1500 m, 2300 m, 3000 traditional knowledge, the interaction between human m and 4000 m (Lovett, 1996). Forest vegetation goes up to only societies and the plant kingdom, precisely, how indige- about 2000 m a.s.l. giving way to savanna (Cable and Cheek, nous people perceive, manage and utilize plants around 1998) (Figure 1). them (Suminguit, 2005). Ethnobotanical documentation is A total of sixteen villages were selected for this research. To the North, sites included Munyenge, Mundongo, Ekona Lelu, Bokoso one ways of securing this body of knowledge in written and Bafia; To the South, Bakingili, Ekonjo, Mapanja, Batoke and and graphic form that can serve effectively to improve the Wututu. To the West, Idenau and Njongi and to the East, Likoko, living conditions of indigenous communities without Bokwango, and Upper farms. There are many traditional medical degrading the environment (Alfredo, 2002). It can also be practitioners in these sites and the principal activities of most of the used to increase and enhance livelihood options, revi- inhabitant’s livelihood include farming and petty trading. talize agriculture, increase food security, improve health and promote a sense of cultural pride within the Methods community. More than 80% of traditional medicines used for The study was carried out from November 2010 to June 2011. A primary health care are derived from plants (Farnsworth, field questionnaire was prepared and the approach used was the 1988). The World Health Organization (WHO, 2003) semi-structured/show–and–tell method developed by Wendy Brombley in 1988 in Korup (Duncan et al., 1989). A total of 200 defines traditional medicine as practices, knowledge and informants including herbalists or TMPs, farmers and housewives belief systems which use minerals, plants and animal from different age groups, were asked to collect all fresh samples of based remedies, spiritual therapies and exercise to the plants they use and all Acanthaceaes present in the collections prevent, treat and maintain well being. A medicinal plant were selected and questions asked about uses of the plant, local is any plant, in which one or more of its organs contain name of plant/disease, preparation methods and conservation active ingredients which can be used for therapeutic strategies taken by the TMPs using semi-structured questionnaires. The data was collected and considered valid if at least two purposes or contain foundation compounds that can be respondents provided similar uses about a medicinal plant. used for synthesis of useful drugs (Sofowora, 1993). Photographs of all species were taken to show all features that The absence of reliable and affordable healthcare, has could be lost during drying, such as the colours and shapes of caused a high proportion of the population especially flowers and leaves. Voucher specimens for species encountered members of the local community to rely on medicinal